KILO-- (_Turning back._)
It's a frog booming on the river bank.
GIMEL--The villagers should hear it they would squeal:
"Ave! Ave!" and hurry to the church
And take their pennies to the Priest. Curse them!
(_While the rest snoop about the cave in search
of food, Kilo puts some kindling upon the
fire, and getting down upon his knees, blows
it into a flame. He then stretches himself
out upon the floor, and proping his head upon_
_his elbow, begins to poke in the ashes with a
stick._)
KILO--Gimel, you're mad because your monk's alive.
(_Zip goes out right on tiptoe._)
SUK--I wonder if Granny knows we killed the bat?
GIMEL--I haven't had a bite since.
SUK-- Yesterday
I found a cricket down among the stones
Still numb with winter's cold.
GIMEL--(_Fearfully._) What is it, Zip?
KILO-- (_Nonchalantly._)
Gimel, if the monk was sleeping there
On Granny's couch and you had Loki's sledge,
Think you could kill him?
SUK-- Sh!
(_Kilo sits up._)
GIMEL-- Zip, what is it?
ZIP-- (_Re-entering._)
It's going to storm. The clouds are scudding fast
And thick and dark, brushing the mountain tops.
SUK--She gets the owl, she'll be here.
(_Kilo lies down. The other gnomes, as if fearing
the entrance of the witch, walk, left._)
SUK-- Better get up.
ZIP--She'll flog you, Kilo, if she finds you there.
KILO--I'll play I'm Sigurd.
ZIP-- Then she'll drub you sure.
You see these baskets here? To-night at dusk
The boy crept tiptoe to the entrance there
And threw them in. I holloed at him: "Hey!
You'd better run! Granny's been looking for you."
(_Kilo rakes a coal from the fire and blows the
ashes from it._)
KILO--You say the wind's up, Zip?
ZIP-- It's going to storm.
SUK-- (_Looking among the dry herbs._)
There's not a leaf of Odin's helmet here.